(by Jason Simmonds)
A Prince Edward Island rink and two curlers from Canada’s smallest province will pursue their Olympic dreams in Ottawa from Sept. 23 to 26.
P.E.I. skip Suzanne Birt follows her shot during the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Canadian women’s curling championship in Calgary, Alta. – Contributed
The Suzanne Birt-skipped rink, consisting of lead Michelle McQuaid, second stone Meaghan Hughes, third stone Marie Christianson and coach Kathy O’Rourke begins play in the Canadian Curling Trials Direct-Entry Event.
Adam Casey, who is from Seven Mile Bay, is playing third stone for Jason Gunnlaugson’s Manitoba rink in the same event.
Erin Carmody, also from Summerside, is the third stone for Halifax’s Jill Brothers’s rink in the Canadian Curling Pre-Trials Direct-Entry event.
“Just having that Olympic dream is at the forefront for sure,” said Birt. “It give you that extra motivation.
“We worked extremely hard, and we are going to compete this week for a spot for the Olympic Trials.”
Birt explained that the five women’s teams will play a round-robin schedule, and the top three will advance to the Tim Hortons Curling Trials, presented by AGI, in Saskatoon, Sask., in late November. The fourth- and fifth-place teams will have another opportunity to qualify at the Home Hardware Curling Pre-Trials in October in Liverpool, N.S.
“It’s like you have two chances to still get to the trials,” said Birt. “We have done a lot of work behind the scenes to get to this point.
Gunnlaugson is joined the Matt Dunstone (Regina, Sask.), Colton Flasch (Saskatoon, Sask.), Glenn Howard (Penetanguishene, Ont.) and Mike McEwen (Winnipeg, Man.) rinks in pursuit of the two men’s berths in the Olympic Trials.
“It’s different having such a big event in September,” said Casey. “I’m out here in Winnipeg with the boys gearing up for it.
“I’ve always liked our team and like where we are at heading in. Hopefully, we can have a good week and take the easy road there.”
Click the link to read this Saltwire Media story: https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/sports/prince-edward-islanders-pursuing-olympic-curling-dreams-in-ottawa-this-week-100636787/